Henry Van Dyke

Shelley

Knight-errant of the Never-ending Quest, 
And Minstrel of the Unfulfilled Desire; 
For ever tuning thy frail earthly lyre
To some unearthly music, and possessed
With painful passionate longing to invest
The golden dream of Love’s immortal fire
In mortal robes of beautiful attire, 
And fold perfection to thy throbbing breast!

What wonder, Shelley, if the restless wave
Should claim thee and the leaping flame consume
Thy drifted form on Viareggio’s beach? 
Fate to thy body gave a fitting grave, 
And bade thy soul ride on with fiery plume, 
Thy wild song ring in ocean’s yearning speech!